Phil Donahue

Phil Donahue used the television talk show format he pioneered in 1967 to interview world leaders, celebrities, newsmakers and people from all walks of life. Donahue has examined human behavior, focused national debates on political and social issues, and has provided a democratic forum for presidential candidates. The format he introduced on November 6, 1967, as The Phil Donahue Show on WLWD-TV in Dayton, Ohio, launched the first audience participation television talk show and changed the face of American daytime television. For his outstanding contribution to television and American culture, Donahue was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1993. As host of Donahue for 27 years, Donahue presided over nearly 7,000 one-hour daily shows, many on-location. Donahue’s latest work, Body of War, exemplifies the consequences of war for the soldiers who fight it.